Meet the trustees and our team

Our Purpose: We create and champion safe and accessible mental health support with, and for the Black community.

Our Vision: A community of Black people readily accessing mental health support, recovering fully from mental illness and thriving.

Hiwot Wolde-Senbet, Trustee (Chairperson)

Ronald Irvine Howson, Treasurer

Nicola Harvey, Trustee

Carol Monoyios, Trustee

  • Hiwot Wolde-Senbet is the Chair of Trustees for BMMUK. Hiwot works with the Trustees and the CEO to fulfil the charity’s objective: to make mental health services accessible to the Black community. She’s also involved in setting the strategic direction and the governance of the charity. Outside of BMMUK, Hiwot advises and delivers end-to-end strategic communication programmes for tech-enabled businesses across many sectors.

  • Ronald oversees all financial aspects of the charity, on behalf of the board of trustees, to ensure its short and long-term viability. He also contributes actively to the Board of Trustees role, giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets. More recently, Ronald has worked as a Management Consultant in a leading global firm, supporting Government & Public Sector Clients through Finance and Corporate Services Transformation and other major investment decisions.

  • Carol ensures that Black Minds Matter UK complies with its memorandum and articles of association, charity law and any other relevant legislation or regulations. She is also Executive Director, Global Resource Mobilisation, at WWF International in Switzerland. Before joining WWF in 2010, Carol was Marketing and Communications Director at humanitarian agency CARE International.

  • Nicola Harvey is a Senior Education & Wellbeing Consultant, with a passion for diversity and inclusion within mental health spaces.

    With over 15 years’ experience in education, Nicola is a Schools Adviser for a local authority, and an Associate Trainer for Mental Health First Aid England. She is an accredited Clinical Reflective Practice Supervisor, approved by the British Psychological Society, and has worked closely with the NHS to develop evidence-based tools to support children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.

    Initially, Nicola trained and qualified as a teacher, and went on to become a senior pastoral lead, and specialist in SEND. Nicola continues to deliver a trauma-informed approach to supporting mental health in schools.

An update from our CEO

Black Minds Matter UK

4 Years on

Danielle Bridge
Chief Executive Officer

Dear Black Minds Matter UK community, 

Since assuming the role of Chief Executive at Black Minds Matter UK at the beginning of this year, I've had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the incredible dedication and resilience of our team and the unwavering support of our community and as a result, I am filled with a sense of pride and gratitude for what we've accomplished.

When I joined Black Minds Matter UK in 2023 as interim CEO,  I recognised the importance of stabilising our organisation and laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth and impact, as we transitioned from a hugely successful fundraising campaign, into a fully-fledged charitable organisation. We continue to  work tirelessly behind the scenes to strengthen our infrastructure, streamline our processes, and enhance our capacity to effectively serve our community.

Our focus now is on creating a comprehensive strategy to expand and scale our organisation, enabling us to reach more Black individuals in our community and beyond.

Central to this strategy is anticipating the diverse needs of our community and proactively developing initiatives to address these.  From culturally competent therapy to support groups and educational workshops, we're committed to providing a holistic approach to mental health and well-being.

We also recognise the importance of engaging with corporate organisations to offer training through a Black lens. By partnering with companies committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we can foster working environments that are more supportive and affirming for Black employees.

Fundraising remains a priority for us as we seek to expand our reach and impact. Through strategic partnerships, grant funding, and community support, we aim to secure the resources needed to scale our programs and services effectively.

But our work doesn't stop there. We're also dedicated to advocating for transformational changes in the mental healthcare system. By challenging the structures and systems that perpetuate racial inequality and injustice, we can create a more equitable society where Black individuals can thrive.

As we look to the future, I'm inspired by the possibilities that lie ahead. Together, we have the power to create meaningful change and build a brighter, more inclusive future for all. Thank you for your continued support and partnership on this journey.

With gratitude,

Danielle Bridge
Chief Executive Officer
Black Minds Matter UK

Meet the team

Danielle Bridge
Chief Executive

Olivia Weigel
Marketing Manager

Darlington Zvionere
Head of Clinical Services

Rita Kaana, Black Minds Matter UK

Sian Cooper
Head of Finance

Rita Kaana
Finance Officer

Nulu Nawanyanga

Therapy Service Manager

Tope Chiedozie
Events Coordinator

Karen Masterson
Head of Fundraising and Communications

  • Danielle Bridge is an experienced leader with a passion for driving positive change in the realm of mental health and social impact. 

    Danielle founded a Community Interest Company (C.I.C) ABC Life Support CIC, a social enterprise that delivers physical and mental health first aid training and used her experience as a facilitator to deliver mental health talks and workshops across the UK. 

    Danielle’s commitment to social justice, coupled with her proven track record of delivering impact in communities positions her as a beacon of leadership in the nonprofit sector and her journey is a testament to the transformative power of individuals dedicated to creating positive change. 

    Her role as the Chief Executive of Black Minds Matter UK is a continuation of this impactful legacy and with her at the helm, the charity is set to achieve new milestones and make meaningful strides towards a more inclusive and compassionate society.


  • Darlington holds responsibility for the clinical direction and delivery of the therapy service within the charity. He is also responsible for establishing therapeutic and clinical pathways in partnership with statutory services, third-sector and other charitable organisations, all for the benefit of the Black community.

  • Olivia is responsible for managing brand partnerships, collaborations, external event support and marketing campaigns.

    She also oversees all of BMMUK social media and communication channels as well as supporting activations within the charity.

    Olivia takes pride in ensure our work is being seen and heard, increasing awareness as one of our key pillars.

  • Sian has over 15 years of experience in Charity accounting, having worked with worldwide teams in large international charities in the past, and more recently directing her own practice specialising in offering support, financial advice and expertise to charitable organisations and social enterprises.

    As Head of Finance, Sian oversees all financial aspects of the charity, reporting to the CEO, wider team and the board. Sian supports the strategic plans for the finances of BMMUK, sets and supports budgeting and funds accounting and administers and reviews the management accounts and monthly activities.

  • Nulu is responsible for coordinating, developing and expanding our therapeutic service with the support of the Head of Clinical Services. She is also responsible for coordinating assessments and managing the therapy waiting list, as well as one of the most important roles within the charity - the allocation of our clients with one of our associate therapists. Nulu is the point of contact for our associate therapists, as well as the direct contact with our clients who are looking for therapy.

  • Rita is a highly motivated and dedicated Finance Officer with extensive 15 years of experience in the Charity sector. Rita has a broad knowledge of a wide range of financial practices, including, payroll, credit control, budget handling and forecasting.

    Rita works closely with the Head of Finance to carry out the charities financial administration to support the sound financial management of the organisation and this includes processing transactions, cross-checking of invoices, coordinating the production of monthly management accounts and generating regular financial reports in line with funder and charitable requirements.

  • As BMMUK’s Events Coordinator Tope is responsible for planning, organising, and executing events that align with our mission and fundraising goals. Tope work’s closely with our marketing and fundraising team and will be managing our event volunteer network.

  • As the Head of Fundraising and Communications, Karen excels at delivering strategic initiatives and influencing decisions at a senior level both within the organisation and externally. She leads the implementation of our overarching fundraising strategy, building and managing partnerships to ensure financial growth.